bdm56
11-19-2002, 10:55 AM
Like most songs on Opiate, this is fairly straight forward to me.
The first paragraph is in reference to the time maynard spent in military school (a theme that comes up in many songs). That there is a right and wrong and that you will be punished for crossing the line.
The rest of the song can either be seen as Maynard trying to make sense of why this doesnt apply to his superiors or why it doesnt apply outside of that military setting.
He could be saying that his superiors arent punished when they step out of line so maybe the rules are different for them, "Maybe its all just bullshit". So he has to redefine right an wrong by saying its only wrong if you get caught. Useing this new logic he figures he could take matters into his own hand and punish his superiors for their wrong doings without stepping out of line himself.
The other way to look at it is how in the real world the line between right an wrong is blurred beyond recogntion so people arent punished who he believes should be. So he follows the same course of action as above but applies it to a real world setting.
Thats just my opinion. I'm sure there is more to it as I do find a lot of scarcasm in this song , especially in the 'if consequences dictate our course of action" part, so please add to it.
The first paragraph is in reference to the time maynard spent in military school (a theme that comes up in many songs). That there is a right and wrong and that you will be punished for crossing the line.
The rest of the song can either be seen as Maynard trying to make sense of why this doesnt apply to his superiors or why it doesnt apply outside of that military setting.
He could be saying that his superiors arent punished when they step out of line so maybe the rules are different for them, "Maybe its all just bullshit". So he has to redefine right an wrong by saying its only wrong if you get caught. Useing this new logic he figures he could take matters into his own hand and punish his superiors for their wrong doings without stepping out of line himself.
The other way to look at it is how in the real world the line between right an wrong is blurred beyond recogntion so people arent punished who he believes should be. So he follows the same course of action as above but applies it to a real world setting.
Thats just my opinion. I'm sure there is more to it as I do find a lot of scarcasm in this song , especially in the 'if consequences dictate our course of action" part, so please add to it.